Anode rack for plating cylinders



Oct. 14, 1958 s. p. LAPHAM ANODE RACK FOR PLATING CYLINDERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 12, 1957 FIG-l INVENTOR. .f/own 0, [AP/MM S. D. LAPHAM ANODE RACK FOR PLATING CYLINDERS Oct. 14, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 12, 1957 INVENTOR. jlflA/') 0. ZIP/144M w Arron m United States Patent ANODE RACK FoR PLATING CYLINDERS Sidney D. Lapham, Martinez, Califi, assignor to Industrial Hard Chrome Plating Corporation, Emeryville, Caifi, a corporation of California Application November 12, 1957, Serial No. 695,945

Claims. (Cl. Z04--272) This invention relates to and in general has for its object the provision of an anode rack for plating cylinders whereby the required clearance between the anode and the cylinder to be plated can be maintained, whereby the excessive deposition of the plating metal at the ends of said cylinder is avoided, and whereby there is a substantial reduction of electric current in efiecting the desired plating.

Currently, worn cylinders, such as diesel engine cylinders, are reconditioned by grinding, honing, and chromium plating. G1 necessity, the plating should be uniformly deposited throughout the working surface of the cylinder. This in turn dictates that during the plating operation the plating anode and the circumscribing cylinder be main tained in coaxial disposition and that preferably some means be provided for preventing any excessive plating over the relatively sharp upper and lower peripheral edges of the cylinder.

To this end, attempts are made to construct the racks used during the electroplating of the cylinders with sufiicient accuracy to support the cylinders coaxially with the rack anode. If because of inaccuracy in construction or corrosion resulting from its use, the rack elements are found to be misaligned it becomes necessary to realign the elements, and for this purpose shimming is resorted to. Although realigning in this manner is possible, often two or three hours of a mechanics time are required.

More specifically, one of the objects of this invention is the provision of an anode rack including a cylindrical anode and a cylinder supporting member mounted for limited universal adjustment relative to each other so that prior to being placed into operation they can be adjusted and locked in coaxial relationship.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a rack of the character above described including a shield positionable over the upper periphery of a cylinder supported by said rack for preventing any excessive plating on the upper peripheral edge of the cylinder.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a rack of the character above described wherein due to its construction plating can be efiected thereby at a substantial saving in electric current.

The invention possesses other advantageous features, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth at length in the following description where those forms of the invention which have been selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the present specification, are outlined in full. In said drawings, one form of the invention is shown, but it is to be understood that it is not limited to such form, since the invention as set forth in the claims may be embodied in other forms.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of an electroplating anode rack embodying the objects of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical mid-section taken on the section line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

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. Fig. 3 is a vertical mid-section taken on the section line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the section line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Beam assembly Making up the beam assembly 1 is a pair of generally coplanar, tandem arranged, and spaced copper bars 5 and 6 provided at their contiguous or inner ends with transversely extending thread bores 7. Overlapping the con: tiguous ends of the bars 5 and 6, coplanar therewith, are

steel bars 8 and 9 provided with transverse through holes,

11 formed on centers identical with the centers of the threaded bores 7 and arranged to be aligned therewith,

as best illustrated in Fig. 1. Extending through the holes 11 and having threaded engagement with the threaded bores 7 are machine screws or bolts 12. Here it should be particularly noted that the diameter of the holes 11 should be substantially greater than the diameter of the bolts 12 so as to permit the bars 5, 6, 8, and 9 to be moved relative to each other and clamped together by the bolts 12 in any adjusted position, not necessarily coplanar. For the purposes of this invention it has been found that a dilference of inch between the diameter of the through holes 11 and their associated bolts 12 is ample. As a result of this construction, it is possible to elevate and/ or incline any of the bars 5, 6, 8, and 9 rela-- tive to each other within predetermined limits.

Anode suspending assembly Disposed over the top and bottom of the beam assembly 1, centrally thereof, are upper and lower rectangular plastic plates 13 and 14, respectively. Similarly seated over the plates 13 and 14 are rectangular steel plates 15 and 16 of the same width as the insulating plastic plates 13 and 14 but somewhat shorter than the plates 13 and- Extending through vertically aligned and symmetrithe bars 5, 6, 8, and 9 and passing with substantial clearance through circular openings 19, 21, and 22 formed respectively in the plates 13, 14, and 16.

As a result of this construction, the sleeve 18 is insulated from the beam assembly and can be clamped thereto in any preadjusted position of the beam assembly.

Cylinder support or hanger Secured respectively to the under side of the beam assembly copper bars 5 and 6 by bolts 23 and 24 are depending vertical cylindrical steel rods 25 and 26, each sheathed in a plastic insulating sleeve 27.

Secured to the lower ends of the rods 25 and 26 by diametrically opposed bolts 28 in an annular steel hanger ring 29, this ring being substantially parallel to the beam assembly 1 and substantially coaxial with the suspension sleeve 18. The opening 30 of the ring 29 is of a diameter such that it will receive the cylinder C of an internal combustion engine with only slight clearance.

D Coaxial alignment of anode suspension sleeve 18 and cylinder hanger 29 In --constructing the elements of the structure thus far described only reasonable accuracy and care is required, for due .to .the \design of the beam assembly the anode suspension sleeve 18 and the circular opening 30 of the hangerring .29 can .be easily brought into strict coaxial relationship by the use of a simple jig. Prior to the application of such a jig, the bolts not the beam assembly and the bolts 17 of the anode suspension assembly are loosened so as to permit the elements of these two assemblies to assume adjusted position. 'This having been done, the sleeve .18 and the hanger ring 29 are brought into and maintained in coaxial relationship by means of the jig above referred to. Following this, the beam assembly bolts 12 are tightened so as to make a rigid structure of the beam assembly. Here, and as already indicated, it may'bethat the bars 5, 6, 8, and 9 of the beam assembly are not coplanar, 'for one of the important functions of this assembly is to serve as an adjustable quadruped for supporting the sleeve 18 in coaxial relationship with the cylinder hanger ring 29. Finally, the bolts 17 are tightened so as tolock the sleeve 18 in its adjusted position to the beam assembly.

Anode assembly Extending through the sleeve 18 is a steel anode rod 31 threaded at its upper end and having a central portion 32 of reduced diameter. Threaded over the upper end of the rod 31 is anut 33 'overhainging the upper end of the sleeve 1'8 and serving as 'a means for adjusting the height 'of said sleeve. Covering the lower end of rod 31 and its central portion '32 of reduced diameter, is a lead coating 34. Seated on the shoulder 35 of the lead coating formed at the lower end of the reduced portion 32 is an annular plastic insulating ring 36, and supported thereon :is a plastic insulating sleeve 37, the upper end of this sleeve being'in abutment with the lower end of the anode suspension sleeve 18.

Formed in the lower end of the anode lead coating 34 is an annular channel'38. Seated over the lower end of the lead coating 34 is an annular plastic ring 39 provided with an upwardly extending flange 41 receivable in the channel 38. .Peened over the inner periphery of theannular ring 39 is the outer reduced end of the lead coating 34, this serving to lock the plastic ring 39 in place without the use of screws and the like.

Holding lugs for engine cylinder Formed in the annular ring 29 is a vertical plane at right angles to the vertical plane containing the bolts 28 is a pair of diametrically opposed, radially extending slots 42 (Figs. 1 .and 4). As best illustrated in Fig. 5, the under side of the annular ring 29 is provided with guide channels 43 in radial alignment with the slots 42 and extending from the periphery of the ring to the slots. Extending through each of the slots 42 is a machine screw or bolt '44 (Fig. 3), the lower end of said bolt having threaded engagement with a finger or lug 45. Rivcted to the outer end of each of the lugs 45 is an upwardly extending pin 46, the free end of said pin being receivable in the adjacent guide channel 43. As a result of this construction, the lugs 45 can be moved radially inward and outward, into and out of locking engagement with the flange C of the cylinder C. Here it should be noted that in the locked position of the cylinder C, its upper end extends through the annular ring 29 with only a slight positive clearance, and that therefore the cylinder is-coaxial with the anode coating 34.

Cylinder shields Since the upper free end of the cylinder C is relatively sharp, the current density at this point would normally be large. This of course would result in an excessive deposition of plating metal at this zone. To shield the Secured to the upper end of the steel rod 31 by a bolt 51 is a conventional battery clamp 52. Pivoted to the clamp 52 by a pin 53 is an inverted U-shaped bracket 54. Extending through the crossbar of the bracket 54 and welded or otherwise secured thereto is an internally threaded nut or sleeve 55, and threaded therethrough is a screw 56 terminating at its upper end in an actuating bar 57. Pivoted to the lower freeend of the screw 56 within the confines of the legs of the bracket 54 is a clampingfork or plate 58. This structure therefore serves as a clamp for the reception of the positive terminal 59 of-a source of current.

Transporting bail Extending through the contiguous inner ends of the copper bars,5 and .6,.centrally thereof, and through relatively large holes 61 formed in the plastic insulating plates 13' and 14 are the free threaded ends of a bail 62. Serving to lock the bail to the beam assembly are upper and lower lock nuts 63 and 64 threaded to the bail ends.

Operative position of'rack As previously suggested, and as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5, the anode rack above described is arranged to be suspended within a plating trough 2 from its beam assembly 1. Current from the anode rod 31 and its associated lead coating 34 passes through the plating solution uniformly to the Walls of the cylinder C. 'The circuit is then completed through the shield rods 25 and 26, the copper bars 5' and 6, and the steel 'bars 8 and 9 to a copper bus bar B seated on the trough flange 4. To insulate the copper bar '5 from the trough, a strip W of wood is seated on the trough fiange3.

Prior to securing the cylinder C in its operative position, a ring 65 coated with wax is seated in the bottom of the cylinder C and is held thereto by the action of its wax coating. By resorting "to this expedient, and which per se is not my invention, the lower end of the cylinder is protected against the excessive deposition of plating, such as chrome plating, orthe'like.

One unforeseen advantage resulting from the use of my anode rack, and one for which no explanation has as yet been found, is that chrome plating can be effected at a substantial saving of electric current. For example, when plating without theme of the shielding member47 a deposition of .002 inch of chrome plate per hour has been obtained, whereas, the addition of the member 47 results in a deposition of .003 inch per hour. From this it can be seen that there is a 50 percent increase in the plating, which of course can be calculated as a saving in electric current.

I claim:

1. An electroplating rack comprising: first and second generally coplanar spaced bars arranged in tandem; third and fourth parallel, laterally offset bars straddling the contiguous ends of said first and second bars and defining a rectangular opening therewith, each end of said third and fourth bars being provided with a hole extending therethrough; a machine screw extending through each of said holes and having threaded engagement with one of said first and second bars, the diameter of said hole being substantially greater than the diameter of said machine screw; a first plate overlying the contiguous ends of said first and second bars and inner sides of said third and fourth bars; a sleeve fixed to and extending through said plate at right angles thereto; a second plate circumscribing said sleeve with positive clearance beneath said bars; means for clamging said first and second plates to said bars, said plates being electrically insulated from said bars; and a rigid suspension member secured to and depending from the inner end of each of said first and second bars.

2. An electroplating rack such as defined in claim 1 wherein a cylinder supporting member is rigidly secured to the lower ends of said suspension members generally in parallelism with said first and second bars.

3. An electroplating rack such as defined in claim 1 wherein an electroplating anode is adjustably suspended from said sleeve.

4. An electroplating rack such as defined in claim 3 wherein a ring of insulating material circumscribes said anode and is provided with an inwardly extending flange arranged to overlie the upper end of a cylinder supported by said rack for electroplating.

5. An electroplating rack such as defined in 'claim 1 wherein a cylinder supporting member is rigidly secured to the lower ends of said suspension members generally in parallelism with said first and second bars and wherein an electroplating anode is adjustably suspended from said sleeve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Werrett Nov. 9, 1943 Saas Mar. 27, 1945 OTHER REFERENCES 

1. AN ELECTROPLATING RACK COMPRISING: FIRST AND SECOND GENERALLY COPLANAR SPACED BARS ARRANGED IN TANDEM; THIRD AND FOURTH PARALLEL, LATERALLY OFFSET BATS STRADDLING THE CONTIGUOUS ENDS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND BARS AND DEFINING A RECTANGULAR OPENING THEREWITH, EACH END OF SAID THIRD AND FOURTH BARS BEING PROVIDED WITH A HOLE EXTENDING THERETHROUGH; A MACHINE SCREW EXTENDING THROUGH EACH OF SAID HOLES AND HAVING THREADED ENGAGEMENT WITH ONE OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND BARS, THE DIAMETER OF SAID HOLE BEING SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID MACHINE SCREW; A FIRST PLATE OVERLYING THE CONTIGUOUS ENDS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND BARS AND INNER SIDES OF SAID THIRD AND FOURTH BARS; A SLEEVE FIXED TO AND EXTENDING THROUGH SAID PLATE AT RIGHT ANGLES THERETO; A SECOND PLATE CIRCUMSCRIBING SAID SLEEVE WITH POSITIVE CLEARANCE BENEATH SAID BARS; MEANS FOR CLAMPING SAID FIRST AND SECOND PLATES TO SAID BARS, SAID PLATES BEING ELECTRICALLY INSULATED FROM SAID BARS; AND A RIGID SUSPENSION MEMBER SECURED TO AND DEPENDING FROM THE INNER END OF EACH OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND BARS. 